ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — The race for Georgia’s next governor is tightening into an effective tie, according to a new InsiderAdvantage poll.

The poll shows just one-tenth of a percentage point separating the two major candidates.

The survey of likely voters shows Republican Rick Jackson holding a razor-thin lead at 46.3% support, with Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms immediately behind at 46.2%. With the candidates neck-and-neck, both campaigns are ramping up their travel and sharpening their messaging ahead of Election Day on Nov. 3.

Bottoms addresses healthcare

Healthcare has emerged as a primary battleground, with each candidate offering a distinct vision for addressing costs and access.

During a campaign stop in Decatur Friday, Bottoms focused heavily on her healthcare agenda, making a strong push for Georgia to expand Medicaid.

“We need to focus on how we can expand Medicaid in Georgia,” Bottoms told supporters. “How we can access those federal dollars that we have left on the table to help cover people across the state.”

Bottoms, who also toured northwest Georgia this weekend to highlight plans to lower housing and healthcare costs, emphasized that the issue transcends party lines.

“Healthcare is not a partisan issue,” Bottoms said. “If someone has a car accident or a heart attack, nobody comes in and asks what political party you are affiliated with.”

Jackson targets costs and government spending

Jackson, campaigning in Buford alongside Gov. Brian Kemp, pitched an alternative approach to healthcare.

The Republican nominee pledged to target industry middlemen, increase price transparency, and expand care options in rural parts of the state.

“I know healthcare. I’ve spent my life in it,” Jackson said. “I know where the costs are, I know where the waste is and I know how the system helps families – and I also know how it fails them. Too many Georgians are paying more and getting less. That’s going to change.”

Beyond healthcare, Jackson focused on economic issues, pledging to reduce government spending and cut taxes.

“As governor, I will treat affordability like a crisis because for too many families it already is,” Jackson told a crowd at Saturday’s rally. “Before the government asks you for another dollar, it ought to account for every dime it already takes.”

With both campaigns maintaining a heavy presence on the trail, voters can expect a highly visible push from both sides as they compete for every undecided voter in the state.

Georgians will head to the polls to decide the race on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

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